United Nations Resolution Research Articles

Improving impact assessments to reduce impacts of deep-sea fisheries on vulnerable marine ecosystems

Robust impact assessments (IAs) for deep-sea fisheries are essential for safeguarding deep-sea ecosystems against the impacts of bottom fishing. In the high seas, United Nations Resolution commitments require States (independently or through Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs)) to conduct IAs to evaluate if fishing is putting vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) at risk. To enhance the efficacy of future IAs, this study evaluated nine IAs against the criteria in the FAO International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-Sea Fisheries in the High Seas. We find that in all IAs, the information required by the FAO Guidelines is either completely lacking or only partially addressed. The main shortcoming of the IAs was inadequate description of the ecosystems potentially affected by fishing. Additional shortcomings include incomplete description of the proposed fishing activities, lack of baseline data and risk assessments, and limited consideration of the indirect impacts of fishing. This study identifies several ways to strengthen the IA process; i) making IAs publicly available; ii) improved collection of baseline data and VME identification; iii) assessment of impacts on broader range of species associated with VMEs or potentially impacted by deep-sea fishing; iv) enhanced cooperation between RFMOs and more streamlined IA processes; v) comprehensive assessment of different types of impacts from fishing and climate change, and vii) improved consideration of uncertainty. Fully compliant IAs are a minimum requirement for the effective function of RFMOs, since they are the primary tool for preventing significant adverse impacts upon vulnerable marine ecosystems and the wider deep-sea environment.

Peripheral Autonomy in a Multipolar Order: Latin American Reactions to the War in Ukraine

The heterogeneity of Latin American stands regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has puzzled observers in Europe and the United States. Different explanations have been offered to account for the seemingly paradoxical willingness of Latin Americans to oppose the invasion when voting for United Nations resolutions, but then to refrain from condemning it discursively and to directly refuse requests to supply arms to Ukraine. This article aims to document the response of Latin American countries to the war and to assess the factors underpinning it. We show how predominant explanations fell short of providing an adequate account and argue that the region's reaction to the war can be better understood as a pursuit of peripheral autonomy. Our study is structured as a congruence analysis, based on an eclectic array of theoretical and conceptual explanations and a corpus of qualitative and quantitative information.

Harmonizing Legal Frameworks: Bridging the Gap between CEDAW and the Afghan Civil Code in Pursuit of Gender Equality

Afghanistan ratified the CEDAW accord without any conditions in 2003 after the deal was formally recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1980. According to the Vienna Agreement; countries can impose restrictions on United Nations resolutions that contradict domestic laws. The Afghan government has decided not to step in, despite the fact that there is a clash between the CEDAW Convention and the Afghan legal system, particularly the Civil Code. The parties to the CEDAW Convention remove from their legal systems any clauses that restrict gender equality as specified by the convention. This article compares and contrasts the rights and obligations regarding marriage, divorce, inheritance, guardianship, custody, and proclamation found in the Afghan Civil Code with Article 16 of the CEDAW Convention.

Socioeconomic determinants of the double burden of malnutrition among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: A cross-sectional study.

The positioning of eliminating all forms of malnutrition within the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals and the adoption of the United Nations resolution for a Decade of Action on Nutrition are a testament to strong global commitment to combat the double burden of malnutrition (DBM). Yet, there is a knowledge gap in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regarding the influence of socioeconomic status on DBM. We investigated the associative effect of socioeconomic status on DBM in SSA. Data for the study were extracted from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 29countries in SSA conducted from 2010 to 2020. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to examine the association between socioeconomic status and DBM. The results were presented using adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Children of obese mothers were less likely to be stunted compared to those born to mothers who were not overweight/obese [aOR = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.66-0.77]. The odds of stunting increased with wealth index, with children born to poorest mothers having the highest odds compared to those born to richest mother [aOR = 1.79; 95%CI = 1.64-1.95]. The odds of stunting among children was highest among those born to mothers with no formal education compared to those whose mothers had higher education [aOR = 2.73; 95%CI = 2.34-3.18]. DBM among children in SSA is predicted by maternal level of education, and wealth status. These results underscore the urgency of tailored interventions and policies that address DBM among women of reproductive age, with a particular focus on the socioeconomic disparities in SSA. To effectively combat this pressing public health issue, it is imperative to direct efforts towards empowering women to attain higher levels of education and to implement strategies that consider the specific needs of women across varying socioeconomic statuses.

The Palestinian Operation on October 7 Between International Legitimacy and Criminalization

This study delved into the operation of Palestinian resistance on the seventh of October, navigating the realms of legitimacy and criminalization within the framework of international law. The researcher examined the historical evolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, revealing a continuous onslaught, occupation, and killing endured by the Palestinian people for over 70 years. The legal foundation of the Palestinian resistance's legitimacy on the seventh of October was explored in light of international law, with the researcher concluding that the resistance exercised its right to legitimate defense in accordance with the United Nations Charter against ongoing aggression by the Israeli occupation. Furthermore, the researcher found that the resistance's actions were consistent with its exercise of the right to self-determination, as endorsed by numerous United Nations resolutions on the Palestinian issue. Finally, the study addressed Israeli allegations of massacres committed by the Palestinian resistance on the seventh of October, presenting evidence that the resistance adhered to international law in its operation and did not violate its provisions. The researcher urged the United Nations to take stricter measures, particularly through its Security Council, by activating Chapter Seven of the Charter to compel Israel to implement international resolutions. Additionally, the researcher also calls on international organizations to morally and materially support the legitimacy of Palestinian armed resistance to exercise its right to self-determination against Israeli occupation and settlement. The researcher recommended that global media listen to both sides of the conflict's narrative for journalistic credibility.

Catastrophic impact of 1947 partition of India on people's health.

The partition of India on the dissolution of British Raj into two dominions is known to have been violent, polarizing and caused large-scale loss of life (about two million) and an unprecedented migration of 14 million people between the two dominions, India and Pakistan. It is not known how well the then scientific community covered this man-made disaster, and the response of the international community with aid. A systematic review was conducted using different electronic databases of PubMed, Econlit, United Nations resolutions, Government of India websites, and Google Scholar for the period January 1947 to December 1951 on the impact of the partition of the Indian sub-continent, and to identify the international response toward this humanitarian crisis. We could locate only twenty-four publications. Partition not only caused monumental humanitarian suffering, but also contributed to food deficits, adverse impact on trade and industries, national income and harmed public health. In contrast, no significant attention was expressed by the international scientific community or the United Nations, or aid provided during this catastrophic event. The review demonstrates the apathy by the contemporary international scientific research community on the social as well as economic damage caused by the partition of India. We suggest that the international scientific and research community should play the role of vigilante and fact finder to unearth the facets of mass human tragedy and its long-term consequences so that global consciousness is awakened, and help and aid flows when it is most needed.

Analysis of coverage of the 11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings in Spain’s El País and El Diario Vasco through war and peace journalism frames

This study examines the way in which two major Spanish newspapers, El País and El Diario Vasco, framed the 11 March 2004 (11-M) Madrid train bombings through peace journalism or war journalism, based on Peace Studies theorist Johan Galtung’s classification. An analysis of the news articles in the immediate aftermath of the bombings finds both frames present. The incumbent Spanish government initially tried to use the news media as a vehicle to present a premature interpretation that the Basque separatist group ETA perpetrated the attacks, even trying to pass a United Nations resolution. However, some journalistic coverage of the events in the week after the 11-M attacks portrayed the Spanish people’s sentiments regarding Spain’s support of the US in the Iraq war, Spaniards’ engagement with their democracy, including massive street protests, and parallels between the Iraqi people’s suffering and the Spanish train bombing victims. Other journalistic coverage focused on the perspectives of high-level Spanish government officials, emphasized the importance of prevailing in ‘the war on terror’, and provided an ‘us–them’ orientation.

Is Russia Losing in Ukraine but Winning in the Global South?

AbstractRussia’s war in Ukraine has been roundly condemned in the West. NATO members have continued to supply Ukraine with weaponry while the EU, US and their allies have ensured that the Russian economy remains under the most extensive and intensive set of sanctions in history. Yet many leaders of countries in the global south have been far more hesitant to condemn Russian actions. Some have merely abstained in United Nations resolutions criticizing Russia, while others have remained neutral. This paper will endeavor to explain why the global south has such a different perspective from the global north on Russia’s war in Ukraine. I argue that this is a result of America’s withdrawal from the global south over the last two decades and Russia’s reemergence in many parts of the Middle East, Sub Saharan Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Jordan’s position on the Tunisian initiative in July 1973 to settle the Arab Israeli conflict in light of the Palestinian documents

The text of the initiative of the Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba, which he proposed on July 2, 1973, to settle the Palestinian issue and end the Arab-Israeli conflict by accepting Israel’s principle of partitioning Palestine according to the United Nations resolution number (181) of 1947 and determining the borders between the Arab states and Israel through negotiations and establishing a Palestinian state, and Bourguiba’s statements aroused the surprise and astonishment of the Jordanian government because they included words that concern the Jordanian affair, so it announced its rejection of those statements and cut off diplomatic relations with Tunisia in protest of that position.

Global Digital Analysis for Science Diplomacy on Climate Change and Sustainable Development

Addressing climate change requires innovative, collective action and robust international collaboration. Through joint efforts, nations can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pioneer sustainable technologies, and implement effective adaptation measures. Science diplomacy and knowledge sharing hold the potential to bolster global stability and peace by directly confronting climate change challenges. Therefore, it becomes imperative to evaluate a country’s alignment of its scientific knowledge system (SKS) with international guidelines. This study delineates the global scientific discourse on climate change and juxtaposes the alignment between an individual nation’s research endeavors and United Nations resolutions concerning climate change and sustainable development. Our methodology integrates data extraction from scientific research databases with advanced textual analysis tools, highlighting this study’s unique focus on the intersection of climate change and UN resolutions. To deliver an empirical analysis, we leveraged complex network theory and advanced text-processing techniques. Our findings demonstrate the trajectory of global scientific output related to these themes, segmented by countries and coupled with CO2 emissions data, key disciplines, and collaboration networks. These insights are instrumental for leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders, highlighting areas of convergence and divergence in national research initiatives essential for achieving global climate goals. Such knowledge is strategically useful for crafting purpose-driven public policies and honoring enduring multilateral pledges to address the climate crisis proactively.

Myanmar's Rejection Of The United Nations Resolution: Allowed of Not?

Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls for an arms embargo and power struggle by the military in a UN general assembly resolution last February because the resolution was considered based on unilateral accusations and false assumptions, and the resolution was deemed not legally binding. In addition, several Myanmar statements have been adopted by the UN security council, which has the authority as well as resolutions deemed legally binding, such as the prohibition of acts of violence against protesters. In addition, the resolution calls on the military not to commit acts of violence as well as restore the democratic transition. The purpose of this study is to find out whether Myanmar may reject the UN General Assembly resolution or not. The study uses normative legal research with a case approach using qualitative descriptive methods to describe the legal reasons used in Myanmar's rejection of the UN General Assembly resolution and how to apply the principle of pacta sunt servanda in this case. The results show that Myanmar rejects the UN resolution calling for an arms embargo because Myanmar considers that the resolution is not legally binding and based on the pacta sunt servanda. Myanmar should accept the UN General Assembly resolution because it binds an agreement to the parties who made it.

Forest recovery by direct seeding on the southern edge of the Brazilian Amazon

Broad‐scale parameters are crucial for the restoration of forest to align with the United Nations resolutions for the “Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.” Direct seeding is a moderately priced, active method with potential use in forest recovery. This study evaluated the recovery of woody vegetation from 23 restored forests (RF) located on the southern edge of the Brazilian Amazon, a region known as the “Arc of Deforestation”. We ask: (1) What are the differences in abundance, species richness, and alpha diversity between seeded and regenerated species in RF? (2) How does the structure, floristic composition, species richness, and alpha diversity of RF compare with adjacent primary forests (PF)? After 12 years of intervention, our results reveal that RFs exhibited lower species richness, alpha diversity, aboveground biomass (AGB), basal area, and dissimilar floristic composition when compared to PFs. Recovery in PFs reached 40% for AGB, 55% for basal area, 24% for alpha diversity, and 60% for species richness. These findings indicate ongoing recovery of evaluated parameters, highlighting the success of the seeding method in restoring degraded riparian forests. We also observed similar species richness between seeded and regenerated species in RFs, yet absolute density, AGB, and alpha diversity were higher in seeded species. The notable presence of non‐seeded species in our plots provides evidence that direct seeding fosters spontaneous regeneration from the regional species pool. Our findings suggest that direct seeding is a viable option for restoring forest structure and diversity in areas with limited or no potential for passive regeneration.

Non-financial reporting of corporations

One of the important directions in the development of modern corporate reporting is the disclosure of the sustainable development of a corporation, which involves assessing the results of operations and managing changes on the way to a sustainable economy that combines data on long-term profitability, social responsibility and care for environmental protection. Therefore, non-financial reporting is becoming the main tool for communicating the information to stakeholders about the economic, environmental, and social results of a corporation’s activities. Currently, the publication of non-financial reports is carried out by transnational and large national corporations, state and municipal organizations in many countries. In the Russian Federation, the need to promote non-financial reporting is approved by the Concept for the Development of Public Non-Financial Reporting (Concept), as a state task that defines this reporting as an element of the management system, development of communications with stakeholders, a prerequisite for increasing efficiency and strengthening corporate competitiveness. A significant impact on the development of public non-financial reporting was made by the United Nations resolution containing 17 goals in the field of sustainable development, which determines the need to develop indicators that evaluate the achievement of goals at the national and global levels and reflect the contribution of the corporation to sustainable development, which are solved in the framework of public nonfinancial reporting. Large and transnational corporations are encouraged to apply sustainable production practices and reflect information on the rational use of resources in their reports. Meaningful, complete, timely, accurate, balanced, comparable and reliable information of public non-financial reporting ensures that stakeholders make informed economic decisions about the sustainability of the corporation, the impact on the environment and society. At the state level, information from public non-financial reporting makes it possible to assess the achievement of strategic goals, the need to combine or separate the activities of sectors of society. The aim of the study was to assess the key concepts of sustainability reporting, the order and specifics of disclosure of its elements and material topics reflecting the impact of the corporation on the economy, environment and society. Among the objectives set by the authors is the assessment of the principles of this type of reporting: comparability, completeness, timeliness, and verifiability, which are closely related to those used in financial reporting. Since the calculation of separate indicators of non-financial reporting and the methodology of formation of consolidated financial reporting (participation method, joint activities, etc.) are closely related, the scope of the study includes the ways of reflecting the elements of reporting. Such scientific methods as logical, expert and substantive analyses, interpretation were used in the work. The results of the research can be used by corporate specialists in the formation of reporting in the field of sustainable development, university professors in the educational process, and other parties interested in the results of corporate activities

The Problem of Recognition of Palestine in the context of the Palestinian People’s Realization of the Right to Self-Determination

The paper examines the problem of recognition of Palestine in modern international law. International documents and United Nations resolutions adopted on the issue of the conflict in Palestine are analyzed. The author, based on an analysis of international documents, concludes that Palestine meets all the criteria for statehood, but the Israeli occupation prevents the creation of a viable Palestinian state. Despite various efforts being made to reach a solution to the Palestinian issue, the peace process has reached a deadlock. This is facilitated by the policy and practice of the occupying power to consolidate the de facto position of the occupied territories in violation of its legal obligations. To date, Palestine is recognized by more than 138 states and the UN General Assembly has repeatedly confirmed the right to self-determination through resolutions. The efforts of the international community must be intensified to put an end to this irreconcilable conflict, which poses a threat to international peace and security.

Strengthening Global Security: Evaluating the Feasibility of a Nuclear-Armed UN Peacekeeping Force

This research paper examines the possibility of enhancing global security by establishing a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force armed with nuclear weapons. Innovative approaches to conflict resolution and deterrence mechanisms are of the utmost importance in an era marked by geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts. This study's primary objective is to evaluate the viability and ramifications of providing UN peacekeepers with nuclear capabilities. To accomplish this objective, a multifaceted research strategy was employed. First, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to comprehend the historical context, current challenges, and potential benefits of a UN peacekeeping force armed with nuclear weapons. To assess the legal and ethical implications of such an initiative, an exhaustive analysis of international legal frameworks, disarmament agreements, and pertinent UN resolutions was conducted. The implications of this research are intricate and nuanced. A UN peacekeeping force armed with nuclear weapons could enhance deterrence and facilitate conflict resolution, but it raises significant concerns regarding proliferation risks, sovereignty, and global power dynamics. The discussion section delves into these findings, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that carefully weighs the pros and cons and the importance of global cooperation in ensuring a secure and peaceful global order. This paper provides policymakers and academics contending with the evolving international security landscape with valuable insights.

Rusty Weapons in a Digital Battlespace

This article explores the evolving landscape of foreign interference in domestic affairs, particularly in the context of ‘information operations’ facilitated by the internet. The primary focus of the article is on the lawful authority to respond to external information operations, and how this authority may be shaped by international law. Specifically, the article explores the royal prerogative in two manifestations — the war prerogative, and external affairs prerogative — as a potential source of authority. In doing so, the article employs an analytical framework by Winterton, distinguishing between the ‘breadth’ and ‘depth’ of constitutional executive power. The article acknowledges the limited case law and debates surrounding these prerogatives’ scope and triggers, and slight nuances between British and Australian jurisprudence. It discusses the relationship between the war prerogative and the existence of armed conflict and touches on how international law can support the exercise of the war prerogative through the ‘public policy test’. Drawing from international legal perspectives, the article references United Nations resolutions from 1976 and 1981 that emphasise the importance of domestic legal remedies against information operations. It stresses the duty of states to combat the dissemination of false or distorted news that interferes with other states’ internal affairs. In sum, the article concludes that, while countering IOs is a matter requiring domestic legal authority, international law can likely extend the ambit of the royal prerogative and should also, as a matter of public policy, apply to such campaigns.

Russian propaganda on social media during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was accompanied by practices of information warfare, yet existing evidence is largely anecdotal while large-scale empirical evidence is lacking. Here, we analyze the spread of pro-Russian support on social media. For this, we collected N = 349{,}455 messages from Twitter with pro-Russian support. Our findings suggest that pro-Russian messages received ∼251,000 retweets and thereby reached around 14.4 million users. We further provide evidence that bots played a disproportionate role in the dissemination of pro-Russian messages and amplified its proliferation in early-stage diffusion. Countries that abstained from voting on the United Nations Resolution ES-11/1 such as India, South Africa, and Pakistan showed pronounced activity of bots. Overall, 20.28% of the spreaders are classified as bots, most of which were created at the beginning of the invasion. Together, our findings suggest the presence of a large-scale Russian propaganda campaign on social media and highlight the new threats to society that originate from it. Our results also suggest that curbing bots may be an effective strategy to mitigate such campaigns.

Future emergence of new ecosystems caused by glacial retreat.

Glacier shrinkage and the development of post-glacial ecosystems related to anthropogenic climate change are some of the fastest ongoing ecosystem shifts, with marked ecological and societal cascading consequences1-6. Yet, no complete spatial analysis exists, to our knowledge, to quantify or anticipate this important changeover7,8. Here we show that by 2100, the decline of all glaciers outside the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets may produce new terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems over an area ranging from the size of Nepal (149,000 ± 55,000 km2) to that of Finland (339,000 ± 99,000 km2). Our analysis shows that the loss of glacier area will range from 22 ± 8% to 51 ± 15%, depending on the climate scenario. In deglaciated areas, the emerging ecosystems will be characterized by extreme to mild ecological conditions, offering refuge for cold-adapted species or favouring primary productivity and generalist species. Exploring the future of glacierized areas highlights the importance of glaciers and emerging post-glacial ecosystems in the face of climate change, biodiversity loss and freshwater scarcity. We find that less than half of glacial areas are located in protected areas. Echoing the recent United Nations resolution declaring 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation9 and the Global Biodiversity Framework10, we emphasize the need to urgently and simultaneously enhance climate-change mitigation and the in situ protection of these ecosystems to secure their existence, functioning and values.

“I’m Sorry, but That’s Bribery”: A Decolonial Perspective From Which to Study Moral Economies in the ‘Chinese Pacific’

“I’m sorry, but that’s bribery,” said reporter Tom Steinfort to Vanuatu Minister of Foreign Affairs Ralph John Regenvanu regarding the supposed support of the island state to China in United Nations resolutions, hypothetically framed as reciprocation for an unprecedented influx of foreign capital. This conceptualization of bribery rests upon recent value negotiations concerning the moral economy of corruption within the context of the ‘China threat’ debate in Oceania. A decolonial methodology is necessary to prevent this superimposition of colonial interests upon indigenous views in journalistic reports, social media outlets, and academic publications. It is, therefore, necessary to interrogate the position from which reporters, journalists, and scholars speak or write about corruption in diplomatic relations in an increasingly Sinicized Pacific. This approach appreciates localized forms of theorizing indigenous ideas about appropriate economic behaviors in the context of new geopolitical relations. In the absence of a decolonial methodology, such ideas might become invisible, along with the intrinsic features of new Sino-Pacific relations.

Health system recovery in Northwest Syria–challenges and operationalization

The demonstrations in Syria in 2011 became an uncompromising conflict that divided the country into three main areas of control: governmental areas, northeast Syria, and Northwest Syria. A series of United Nations resolutions adopted in 2014 authorizing official cross-border humanitarian aid in opposition-held areas to allow humanitarian agencies and organizations to use routes across the border from neighborhood countries like Turkey to deliver humanitarian assistance to people in need in Syria. The resolution was extended annually until 2021 when it was adapted to involve a cross-line humanitarian response from governmental areas besides cross-border operations. The last adaptation of the cross-border resolution, whose original form was interpreted as a politicized action by Russia and China, implicates an unframed and unplanned transition from an emergency to an Early Recovery status. Without an appropriate framework for the current geopolitical complexity in Syria, Early Recovery programs are doomed to fail, resulting in further complications in the political and humanitarian scenes. Moreover, the effectiveness of the cross-line mechanism is questionable, considering the lack of accessibility and acceptability for Damascus-based humanitarian operations in areas out of government control. The article reviews studies about Early Recovery guidelines and operational frameworks of health systems recovery in post-conflict settings to derive a practical and hybrid framework for operationalizing health system recovery in Northwest Syria, considering current geopolitical and humanitarian circumstances. This article draws upon the six building blocks of the health system, the essential package of public health services, Early Recovery integration criteria, health system resilience dimensions in the literature, and public health determinants to identify context-specific health system recovery challenges and priorities. As a result, we introduce a new health system recovery framework, which is operationalized for the context of Northwest Syria.